Delonix regia
Royal Poinciana
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Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia) - Description
Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia) is a semi-evergreen drought tolerant tender flowering tree. It is a native of Madagascar's dry deciduous forests. Royal Poinciana is a legume with nitrogen-fixating and soil improving qualities that replaces nutrients to depleted soils. Plants are only hardy down to 35-45 F or zones 10a-12b. Trees will reach 30-40 feet tall at maturity with a massive thick weeping canopy that can reach twice the width of the overall height. Beautiful lacy fern like leaves 12-24 inches long provide ample shade underneath it's dense canopy. Perhaps the most stunning characteristic of Royal Poinciana is it's cluster's of brilliant flame-red flowers 4-5 inches across. Flowers consist of 4 spoon shaped flat laying orange-red petals about 3 inches long, and one upright slightly larger petal marked with yellow and white. Trees begin blooming in early spring and continues for 4-8 weeks until early summer. Typically in the US bloom time will be May-June. After blooming Royal Poinciana forms very large woody seed pods up to 24 inches long and 2 inches wide.
Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia) - Blooming
Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia) starts blooming in early spring for 4-8 weeks until early summer. It has dense clusters of brilliant flame-red flowers.When grown in containers it rarely blooms.
Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia) - Growth
Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia) grows quite rapidly until it reaches maturity. Growing up to 5 feet per year until it is mature. Trees reach a height of 30-40 feet tall and have a canopy 60-80 feet in diameter. In climates that have a noticeably dry winter trees are deciduous and lose their leaves. However, in climates that have a wetter climate year round trees stay evergreen and do not drop their leaves.
Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia) - Planting
When transplanting Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia) into the landscape first make sure you are digging your hole plenty far enough from any side walks or foundations. The shallow dense root system that Royal Poinciana has can damage such structures. The root zone of a typical tree extends out past the edge of the canopy. The diameter for a typical Royal Poinciana canopy at maturity can be up to 80 feet. Be aware of that when choosing a location for your tree. Dig the hole twice the diameter of the root ball and deep enough so that the top of it sits flush with the soil surface. Refill the space around the root ball with loose topsoil and water in well.When growing in containers use one large enough that will support it's size. Choose a well draining potting soil and make sure the top of the root ball sits flush with the soil.
Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia) - Pest
Pests that affect Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia) are Whiteflies, Spidermites, Thornbugs, Crown Gall, Mushroom Root Rot, Wood Rot and Leaf Spots.
Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia) - Interesting facts
The city of Miami has a yearly festival to celebrate the Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia) coming into flower each spring. The Royal Poinciana Fiesta is Miami's oldest continuously running festival.In Australia some people consider Royal Poinciana an invasive species due to its dense canopy and shallow root systems that prevent natives from growing.
Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia) - Soil and irrigation
In the landscape and it's natural environment Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia) is tolerant of a wide range of well draining soils acidic to alkaline, loamy to gravely. It prefers to be watered regularly never allowing to completely dry out during its growing season. During it's dormant season it prefers dry soils.When growing in a container be sure to use a well draining potting soil. During the growing season follow a normal watering schedule allowing the pot to dry down between each irrigation but not to a point where the soil shrinks away from the sides of the pot. When the plant is dormant keep the soil on the dry side.
